Fulham have signed defender Stephen Kelly from Birmingham City on a three year deal which represents Fulham’s ambition of sustaining a top ten place in the Premier League next season whilst competing in the newly formed Europe League for the 2009/2010 season.
Kelly a "Useful Addition"
Kelly was on loan at Stoke City last term but missed much of the thirty eight games with a thigh injury, but when fit, Kelly will be a “useful addition” to the squad as he is a ”talented young full back”, said Roy Hodgson, Fulham manager, and will be used as backup to John Pantsil, Fulham’s passionate yet erratic defender.
Kelly Happy to Join a "Progressive Club"
The defender told the BBC that he is happy to “have joined a progressive club” in Fulham. Progression is an understatement for what the Thames outfit have achieved.
A year ago Fulham had just celebrated escaping relegation from the Premier League after a one nil victory away at Portsmouth on the final day of the season. This year the white shirted team have just completed a miraculous campaign which has seen them achieve their highest ever finish in the top flight. An extraordinary turn around.
Hodgson Will Need to Sign Many More Players
Roy Hodgson will need to sign many more backups this summer if Fulham are to remain near the top of the Premier League table next season. Danny Murphy was their star man in midfield last term but he faded with fatigue during the last ten minutes of fixtures last season so a suitable substitute ready on the bench is a necessary requirement.
Zamora Form Has Not Been Good Enough
Bobby Zamora, former West Ham striker, was also deemed a failure last term. His confidence died during the later stages of last season and it would be an unthinkable proposition for the forward to continue in that vein of form next term if Fulham are to play a prospective twenty more games in Europe starting in August.
Indeed with the signing of Kelly intact, Roy Hodgson needs four more quality players to help sustain success for the club who are competing in the England’s Elite league and the former Inter Milan manager is confident that more signings will follow, “I am hopeful that we will be able to announce further additions in the coming weeks”.
Fulham Supporters Hope Hodgson Can Continue the Success Next Season
Roy Hodgson rose another football club to stardom during his distinguished managerial career in the shape of Blackburn Rovers, taking them to the top ten places of English football, but then failed to live up to the expectation the following year and was subsequently sacked.
Fulham supporters will hope a similar fate does not materialise for their South London club.
